That the divinity of the Messiah is the sine qua non of primitive Christianity is obvious. The synoptics simply presuppose it by identifying Jesus as the pre-existent Messenger of the Lord. In Mic. 5:2 we read of a figure, prophesied to come from Bethlehem, who would be ruler in Israel. His goings-forth from God are said to be from old, from ages past. Matt. 2:6 confirms this as messianic and applies it to Jesus. In Mal. 3:1-2 the same mysterious pre-existent figure comes to his Temple, preceded by a herald. Malachi identifies this pre-existent figure as the Messenger of the Covenant. Jesus very subtly identifies himself as Malachis Messenger by identifying John the Baptizer as Malachis herald. Who do the gospels have John preparing the way for? Jesus (Matt. 3, Mk. 1, Lk. 3, Jn. 3). For the synoptics, Jesus of Nazareth is the Messenger of the Covenant. This unique Messenger of the Lord is appears at various times to important figures throughout the Torah. Most notably he appeared to Abraham (Gen. 18-22) in connection with Isaac/the destruction of Sodom (Amos 4:11), and then to Jacob (Gen. 28-32). To Jacob he identifies himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac, and the God of Bethel. Jacob comes to confess that seeing this Messenger is seeing God: I have seen God face-to-face; and my life is preserved. At the end of his life (Gen. 48:16) he equates the God of Abraham and Isaac with this Messenger. Finally, this Messenger of the Covenant appears to Moses in the burning bush (Ex. 3). Here he reveals himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and I Am. This is the key to understanding Jesus statement that before Abraham was, I Am (John 8:58). He is professing to be the One associated with Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. Later, God sends this unique Messenger as a the pillar of fire and cloud. This Messenger is said to be able to forgive sins, and God says that his name (YHWH) is in him (Ex. 23:20-22). Consider this: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob allowed his own High Priest to accuse him of blasphemy (Mk. 14), himself blaspheming the glory-cloud of YHWH standing before him.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 23:27:00 +0000